Humane elastic cinch

ABSTRACT

An improved elastic cinch for securing a riding saddle to a horse. This elastic cinch is made of folded, soft leather, with foam rubber padding. There are two elastic strip sections as a part of this cinch assembly, which gives it approximately 4 inches of stretch. On each end of the cinch there are two metal attaching buckles, which have soft leather protective covers. This cinch is designed to give added comfort and to assure greater safety to both the rider and the horse.

United States Patent I 1191 Dulaney 1451 Aug. 13, 1974 HUMANE ELASTICCINCH [76] Inventor: George W. Dulaney, Rt. No. 2,

Hampstead, Md. 21074 [22] Filed: Nov. 11, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 197,696

[52] 0.8. CI. 54/23 [51] Int. Cl. B68c 1/14 [58] Field of Search 54/23,46

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 160,560 3/1875 Witter 54/23160,987 3/1875 Witter 54/23 178,008 5/1876 Horton 54/23 1,678,373 7/1928Weisenfeld 54/23 2,066,855 l/1937 Robertson 54/23 6/1937 Sidell 54/239/1938 Wright ..54/23 Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock AssistantExaminer-J. A. Oliff Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter G. Finch 5 7]ABSTRACT An improved elastic cinch for securing a riding saddle to ahorse. This elastic cinch is made of folded,-soft leather, with foamrubber padding. There are two elastic strip sections as a part of thiscinch assembly, which gives it approximately 4 inches of stretch. Oneach end of the cinch there are two metal attaching buckles, which havesoft leather protective covers. This cinch is designed to give addedcomfort and to assure greater safety to both the rider and the horse.

' 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures mamm I 3.828.521 sum 1 or 2 INVENTORGeorge W. Ou/oney m nnows u amu SHEH 2 (IF 2 mm Q NV mm mm WWWWWMH V Y.M. v /QV m w v at uvvdvron George W. Du/aney ATTORNEY HUMANE ELASTICCINCH This invention relates generally to saddles that are used forriding horses, and more particularly it pertains to a cinch strap thatfastens the saddle to the horse.

Cinch straps that are now being used are all of the same general type,being made of leather or other similar material. They are placed underthe horses belly, fastened to each side of the saddle, pulled tight andsecured by a buckle arrangement. This type of cinch, with no give to it,being pulled tight around the horses body is probably very uncomfortableto the horse and it does restrict his natural breathing. Sometimes thehorse, knowing that the saddle is to be placed on him, will take a deepbreath and expand his body. The cinch will be pulled tight only tobecome loose after a short time, thereby allowing the saddle to slip.This requires readjustment of the cinch.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improvedcinch that is both practical and humane.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cinch made of soft.leather, padded, and with two attaching buckles protected by leathercovers to prevent the metal from coming into contact with the body ofthe horse.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an elastic cinchmade of two elastic strip sections on the cinch, which will stretch 4full inches, thus allowing the horse to breathe naturally and to be morecomfortable, while keeping the saddle in a secure position on his back.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved cinch whicheliminates the necessity for stopping after the first 5 minutes or so ofriding and pulling the cinch up, as is normally done. The two elasticsections adjust automatically and keep an even tension on the cinch.Also it is especially useful on young inexperienced horses, as thiscinch does not require being pulled up tight, as with conventionalcinches, consequently the horse is less likely to buck.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an Referring indetail to the drawings in which like reference numbers refer to likeparts in all of the figures, FIG. 1 shows an elastic cinch 10 placedunder belly of a horse 90 with its two ends attached, by the two buckles30, to the two saddle straps 12, one on each side of the saddle 80. FIG.2 shows the outer side, and FIG. 3 shows the under side of the elasticcinch 10 which consists of a reinforcing strap 50, and a leather strap60 having padding 66, with sections of elastic strips 40, 42 and 44, 46attached to each end thereof.

A buckle 30, which is enclosed in a leather protective cover 26, isattached to each of the other two ends of the elastic strips 40, 42 and44, 46. Both of the ends of the cinch 10 are identical.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show cross sections of the construction of the elasticcinch 10 at the points indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 4 shows the twopieces of leather 34 and 36 sewn together along lines 38 to make theprotective cover 26 for the metal buckle 30.

One end of each of the elastic strips 40, 42 and 44, 46 are also shownattached by being sewn along line 32 to a section of leather 31 which issecured to the buckle 30.

FIG. 5 shows the other ends of the elastic strips 40, 42 and 44, 46attached by sewing along lines 52 to both the foam rubber padding 66,leather strap 60, and to the leather reinforcing strap 50.

FIG. 6 shows the soft leather strap 60 covering the foam rubber padding66 and attached by sewing along line 62 to the leather reinforcing strap50.

The two strap hooks 24 shown in FIG. 2 are for the optional use of abreast strap 20.

The elastic cinch 10 is positioned as shown best in FIG. 1, and thevarious components are attached thereto as previously described.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

elastic cinch which provides a safety factor to the rider.

By using this improved cinch, the rider is assured that the saddlewillremain secured in one place on the back of the horse and that it willnot slip forward, backward or sideways.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will becomereadily apparent and understood from the following detailedspecification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing a saddle mounted onto the back of ahorse, using the elastic cinch, incorporating features of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is the outer side of the cinch of FIG. 1 showing the twoattaching buckles with protective leather covers, the two elastic stripsections and the center leather strap section;

FIG. 3 is the underside of the cinch showing the protective leathercovers for the two buckles, the two elastic strip sections and thecenter leather strap sections;

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the cinch taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the cinch taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;and

6-6 of FIG. 3.

What is claimed is: v 1

l.'An elastic cinch assembly, comprising, an enclosed intermediatesection, a padding material contained internally of said enclosedintermediate section; attaching buckle sections positioned spatially atopposite ends of said intermediate section and in axial alignmenttherewith, a first elastic strip coupling one end of said intermediatesection to its respective spaced buckle section, and a second elasticstrip coupling the other end of said intermediate section to itsrespective spaced buckle section.

2. An elastic cinch assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein saidintermediate and buckle sections are formed of folded, soft leather.

3. An elastic cinch assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said paddingmaterial is formed of foam rubber which is contained within saidenclosed intermediate section to provide a pliable, comfortable,conformable animal-engaging cinch member.

4. An elastic cinch assembly as recited in claim 1, and additionallyspaced strap hooks for attachment to the breast strap of a saddlewherein said hooks rest against an exposed non-animal-engaging portionof said intermediate section to preclude any engagement of said hookswith any portion of an animal having the cinch assembly positionedthereon.

additionally a protective cover placed about each of said bucklesections to preclude engagement of said buckle sections with any portionof an animal having the cinch assembly positioned thereon.

1. An elastic cinch assembly, comprising, an enclosed intermediatesection, a padding material contained internally of said enclosedintermediate section; attaching buckle sections positioned spatially atopposite ends of said intermediate section and in axial alignmenttherewith, a first elastic strip coupling one end of said intermediatesection to its respective spaced buckle section, and a second elasticstrip coupling the other end of said intermediate section to itsrespective spaced buckle section.
 2. An elastic cinch assembly asrecited in claim 1, wherein said intermediate and buckle sections areformed of folded, soft leather.
 3. An elastic cinch assembly as recitedin claim 1, wherein said padding material is formed of foam rubber whichis contained within said enclosed intermediate section to provide apliable, comfortable, conformable animal-engaging cinch member.
 4. Anelastic cinch assembly as recited in claim 1, and additionally spacedstrap hooks for attachment to the breast strap of a saddle wherein saidhooks rest against an exposed non-animal-engaging portion of saidintermediate section to preclude any engagement of said hooks with anyportion of an animal having the cinch assembly positioned thereon.
 5. Anelastic cinch assembly as recited in claim 1, and additionally areinforcing strap secured to an outer non-animal-engaging portion ofsaid intermediate section for reinforcement thereof.
 6. An elastic cinchassembly as recited in claim 1, and additionally a protective coverplaced about each of said buckle sections to preclude engagement of saidbuckle sections with any portion of an animal having the cinch assemblypositioned thereon.